A new building proposed for the University of California, Davis, would replace space now used by the College of Engineering in a building classified as an earthquake hazard, and allow the college to relocate and consolidate programs now distant from the campus's main engineering area. Rated as "poor" under the criteria approved by the UC regents for university-owned buildings, Walker Hall, built in 1927, is the last remaining building at UC Davis with such a rating. The campus has been upgrading or replacing seismically deficient buildings on an ongoing basis, with the most recent projects including Wyatt Pavilion, Veimeyer Hall and the campus water towers. The $18.3 million new building would be located at the current site of Parking Lot 44, just south of Bainer Hall and near Engineering Unit 2. It would house the engineering departments of civil and environmental engineering, and applied sciences -- both now in Walker Hall -- as well as some programs now located in Everson Hall and the Chemistry Annex. Construction of the three-story, 36,000-square-foot engineering building is expected to begin in 1998, with completion in two years, according to campus environmental planner Sid England. "It is anticipated that $10.8 million will come from state bonds and the remainder from the university." During the construction phase, some pens at the swine facility would be relocated within the boundaries of the existing facility. At the end of the building project the swine facility would be moved to a new location. The mechanical and aeronautical engineering and the environmental design departments would remain in Walker for the time being, but the hall would eventually be evacuated. A historical evaluation of the building will begin this fall. Whether the hall will be renovated to a less intensive use or demolished is to be determined, England said. In compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and state and University of California guidelines, a study was prepared that evaluated the environmental impacts of the new building. It was determined that the project does not exceed environmental impacts previously identified in the 1994 Long Range Development Plan. A "negative" declaration has been posted with a public review period extending until May 19. Written comments on the proposed action can be sent to Richard Meisinger Jr., Associate Vice Chancellor of Planning and Budget, University of California, Davis, California, 95616.